More Andre Blake blunders nearly cost the Philadelphia Union in their first match of the 2019 postseason.
Blake's miscues contributed to two of the three NY Red Bulls goals on the afternoon, but the Union stormed back to win the first playoff match in their history 4-3.
After failing to get a hand on Josh Sims's opener, a play he'll surely want back, the Jamaican international and former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year lunged for and missed a Kaku corner, which allowed defender Tim Parker to head in the New York Red Bulls’ second goal in the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One clash at Talen Energy Stadium on Sunday.
Blake also didn't get a strong enough punch on a Marc Rzatkowski free kick just before the halftime whistle, allowing Tom Barlow to clean up at the back post for RBNY's third goal as the visitors regained a two-goal lead at the break.
It is not Blake’s first error against the rival Red Bulls this year.
In New York’s 2-0 home win Sept. 22, Blake parried a Josh Sims cross into the path of Barlow, who easily fired in the game’s first goal.
Blake’s form in 2019 has not quite matched the standard he set in previous seasons as the club’s full-time starter.
According to American Soccer Analysis, Blake had the second worst expected goals figure among goalkeepers, behind only Evan Bush of the Montreal Impact. He conceded 8.49 more goals than he should have on average based on their regular season data.
